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Born c. 870,[1] Fulk was the son of Count Ingelger and Adelais de Amboise.[2]

He ruled the county of Anjou from c. 908 to 942, first as Viscount then in 929 as Count.[2] It is not known why there was a period of time between Ingelger's rule and his son Fulk's.[3] In 899 he became Viscount of Tours and in 905, Count of Tours.[2] About 900-918 he was Count of Nantes.[2] He increased the territory of the county of Anjou. During his reign, he was permanently at war with the Normans and the Bretons. He lost Nantes to the Normans in 919. Normans and their Vikingallies often invadedBrittany and Anjou.[3]c. 927, Ingelger, Fulk's oldest son was killed[2] defending Anjou against Norman attacks.[3]

↑The position of lay abbot was a desirable reward for a count or magnate.[5] It allowed him to rule a monastery and manage the rich lands it owned. It was always intended that an abbot be a father to the other monks. But lay abbots were administrators who functioned to protect the monastery and it's property.[5] While a lay abbot made money he also had great influence in the church. Because Fulk I was lay abbot of St. Aubin he could influence who became bishop. The bishops of Angers were consecrated at St. Aubin.[5]